Lead User Experience Designer (Contract)

Bounteous x Accolite is looking for a seasoned Lead User Experience Designer with a passion for creative problem-solving and a proven ability to lead fast-paced and dynamic experience strategy and design engagements. Our ideal candidate is a naturally engaging storyteller who enjoys collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to create meaningful experiences that users love and clients value. 

As a Lead User Experience designer, your desire to craft data-driven, human-centered solutions keeps you in the work, driving the experience strategy and quality standards from concept through execution. You will serve as a leader and mentor to colleagues working alongside you, helping them hone their craft while modeling behaviors that build trust and partnership with team members and clients.

Role & Responsibilities

• User Research and Analysis:

• Determine and conduct appropriate user research methodology (e.g. IDIs, focus groups, etc.) to understand user needs, behaviors, and preferences.

• Create personas, user journey maps, empathy maps, etc.

• Critique, analyze, and synthesize research findings that inform and apply to the experience design approach and solution.

• Experience Strategy & Design:

• Facilitate discovery activities with limited oversight such as workshops, stakeholder interviews, heuristic reviews, audits, competitive reviews, etc.

• Articulate a clear experience strategy grounded in discovery outputs, research, business, and audience needs

• Lead and create supporting deliverables and documentation including user flows, service blueprints, process flows, use case diagrams, wireframes, prototypes, etc.

• Iterate on deliverables based on user feedback and/or usability testing

• Content Strategy

• Connect content strategy activities to demonstrable user, business, and brand value

• Lead and create detailed content strategy deliverables with limited oversight, including governance models and workflows, content models, taxonomies, information architecture, relationship documents, content audits & inventories, and research findings.

• Inclusive & Accessible Design:

• Advocate for and implement accessibility best practices to ensure people with disabilities can access and effectively utilize websites & products.

• Create content, websites, and products that are usable by the range of human diversity, regardless of age, culture, ability, gender, or other backgrounds.

• User Testing & Analysis:

• Plan and conduct appropriate user testing methodologies (e.g. usability testing, card sorting, content testing, preference testing, etc.) to gather insights on the user experience

• Analyze results to inform approach, enhancements, and improvements.

• Continually identify opportunities for optimizing the user experience by conducting feedback, iteration, and testing cycles.

• Communication & Collaboration:

• Active listener and insightful communicator with colleagues at any level to achieve desired outcomes and build strong alliances and relationships

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and stakeholders to bring designs from concept through implementation

• Communicate design intent, ideas, and concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues and clients.

• Team Excellence & Growth:

• Contribute to the establishment of experience design standards, deliverables, and methodologies within the organization

• Mentor junior team members to create polished deliverables, improve presentation skills, and guide career growth

• Keep abreast of industry trends, best practices, tools, and emerging technologies in experience design

• Contribute to our culture and atmosphere, ever-improving quality of work, and growth into the next generation of user experience designers

Preferred Qualifications

• BS/BA or Advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Library Science, Graphic Design, Information Systems, Computer Science, or equivalent work experience

• 6+ years of experience as a UX professional; 2+ years at a digital-first agency or consultancy required 

• Strong background in human factors, information architecture, and user-centered design methodology

• Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, facilitating workshops, and presenting work to clients

• Experience with responsive and mobile design, design systems, and accessibility best practices

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities

• Effective communicator with all levels of leadership, management, and staff to achieve desired outcomes and build strong alliances and relationships 

• Proficiency in design and presentation software, specifically: Figma, Userlytics, Optimal Workshop, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Library Science, or related fields

• Background in taxonomy, Digital Asset Management IA

• Experience with service design and/or dialog design 

• Knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies